Over the past few days, peace talks in various formats have taken place between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia. According to Politico, cited by RBC with reference to diplomatic sources, participants have agreed to involve European countries in these meetings. However, as the same sources note, European capitals view the possibility of a breakthrough on this track with noticeable skepticism.
Format and geography of contacts
According to published information, the latest round of negotiations took place this week in Abu Dhabi. Meetings were held in several formats, indicating an attempt to build a multilateral dialogue between Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow. The photograph accompanying the article captures the negotiating room: delegations are seated along a long table, national flags stand behind the participants, and photographers and journalists are present in the hall recording the progress of the meeting.
Involving Europe in the process
A key element of the agreements, according to sources, is the consensus on European countries participating in future meetings. This means that European governments, which previously largely remained outside direct contacts, will now be included in the negotiation process. Nevertheless, as Politico emphasizes, European capitals remain cautious about the prospects of such participation and the results of the latest round itself.
"Maximalist demands"
One of the main arguments of the skeptics was the assessment of Moscow's positions. "Russia's demands are the exact same maximalist demands we have been hearing for many years," said a diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were confidential. This phrasing essentially reflects the position of some European capitals: in their view, Russia's stance has not fundamentally changed, and this is precisely what limits expectations of a breakthrough.
What this means for the diplomatic track
Thus, against the backdrop of formal progress in the negotiation process — new formats, Europe's involvement, meetings in Abu Dhabi — a gap remains between diplomatic activity and the parties' realistic expectations. European participants, judging by diplomats' statements, are not ready to consider the latest round a turning point and point to the unchanging nature of Moscow's maximalist demands. Further dynamics will depend on whether the agreed European participation can go beyond previous positions and forge concrete agreements.
